Where does “kvass” come from?

kvass (Norwegian Bokmål) comes from Russian ква́с, from Old East Slavic квасъ, from Proto-Slavic kvasъ, from Proto-Indo-European kwh₂et- — to ferment, become sour; to boil, foam.

kvass (Norwegian Bokmål): kvass; sharp; sharp, clever, witty

Definitions

  1. kvass; sharp; sharp, clever, witty

Ancestry of “kvass”, step by step

kvass traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian ква́с

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianква́сkvass
2Old East Slavicквасъ—
3Proto-Slavickvasъleaven, fermented drink
4Proto-Indo-Europeankwh₂et-to ferment, become sour; to boil, foam

via Old Norse hvass

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsehvasssharp, keen; fig, of the intellect; sharp, acute
2Proto-Germanichwassazsharp
3Proto-Indo-Europeankʷh₁dstós—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kwh₂et- →Every word from Proto-Slavic kvasъ →Every word from Old East Slavic квасъ →